“In the modern lifestyle, we are exposed to many chemicals in our everyday life to meet our escalating material demands. As per an estimate, we come across about 500 chemical compounds daily, several being synthetic and toxic in nature. Many of these toxic chemicals have the potential to bring about severe health impacts not only in human beings but also in other living organisms existing in nature. Release of these chemicals into our environment also causes pollution of soil, water and air and these ultimately again reach the human body through the food chains.”
“Concentration of these toxic chemicals in humans becomes higher through the process of biomagnification, thus causing diverse health-related disorders and disruptions. Dysfunction of organs, development of allergies, respiratory and cardiac disorders, weakening of immune system, hormonal disturbances, reproductive problems and birth defects, growth-related issues and increased occurrence of cancer are some of the important manifestations. Many of the chemicals used in cosmetics and personal care products, surface cleaners and disinfectants, food preservatives, solvents and paints, air fresheners, bleaching chemicals, batteries, pesticides used in agriculture, lead and other heavy metals may be carcinogenic or wreak havoc with our body’s regulating system.” “Hence, we must take utmost care to reduce the use of these destructive chemicals and avoid coming in contact with them.”
Environment experts expressed such opinion while participating in a seminar on the theme ‘Chemicals harming health and environment’ organised by the Orissa Environmental Society (OES) on Sunday.
Chief speaker Prof Shreerup Goswami of Department of Geology, Utkal University, made an elaborate description of the diverse synthetic chemicals that are of serious concern. Female hormone oxytocin is injected into cows for increase in milk, hens for more eggs and vegetables for larger size and looking fresh. Formaldehyde is used to preserve fish and melamine and urea are added to milk to show enhanced protein and fat. Dexamethasone is given to cattle, goats and sheep for increased production of meat. Even cold drinks are laden with pesticides, apples are coated with wax, chemical colours are added to fruits and vegetables to look fresh and flavour enhancers are added to food items, he pointed out.
Presiding over the seminar, former PCCF (Wildlife) Bijay Kumar Patnaik emphasised on spreading awareness among people and strict enforcement of existing laws to prevent the use of certain chemicals. OES secretary Jaya Krushna Panigrahi opined, “We should give utmost priority to the use of products derived from natural resources for meeting our needs and use of synthetic chemicals should be abandoned to the greatest possible extent.”
Eminent science writer Dr Chitta Ranjan Mishra gave a vote of thanks.